Associatedcontent.com is reporting:

If the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame In Cleveland wasn't already full of some of the loudest acts in rock history, on Saturday, April 4, it got quite a bit louder. Thrash metal rockers, METALLICA, were inducted, using two bassists on stage during their induction performance. It was all about keeping good company.

Ex-bassist Jason Newsted joined new bassist Robert Trujillo and his old bandmates, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett as the band was inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame. After 28 years and just a couple of line-up changes, Metallica has become one of the most popular and enduring acts in rock, still selling out concerts and producing #1 albums (five in a row have debuted in the top spot, a Billboard chart record). The band has also kept relevant, following fellow Hall of Famer's AEROSMITH in releasing their own dedicated version of the video game Guitar Hero.

Drummer Lars Ulrich told People magazine, "Obviously they've been pretty selective with the harder rock bands that have gained entrance over the years. AC/DC, LED ZEPPELIN, BLACK SABBATH - so that's very good company to be in."

Indeed it is.

In fact, there are only a handful of hard rock bands that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since inductions began in 1986. Besides the aforementioned, other hard rockers that have been inducted include VAN HALEN, QUEEN, THE WHO, THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE, and a couple of peripheral hard rock acts such as the SEX PISTOLS, THE CLASH, and THE RAMONES. There have also been a few borderline hard acts with a southern, blues or country flavor as well: THE EAGLES, THE YARDBIRDS, CREDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, and ZZ TOP.

But none of the inductees have been as heavy as Metallica, not even the legendary BLACK SABBATH.

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